Electric switch



Feb. 7, 1933. 3 w UEBERUM 1,896,847

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 30, 1929 Fig.8. 2s 25 /6 2/ 2a 2a a Inventor-Z G eqrge Lieber'um,

y MW His Attorney Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE W. vLIEBEJRIH'M, OF STRATFOB-D, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ELECTRIC SWITCH implication filed larch 3Q, 1929. Serial No. 351,288.

The present invention relates to electric switches and more especially to small regulating switches such as are used in connection with household devices.

The object of the invention is the rovision of an improved regulating switch w ich shall be of simple and compact construction, which shall make and break the circuit with a snap action, and which shall be of low manufacturing cost.

Two embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a plan view of a through cord switch; Fig. 2 is an inside plan view of the rear. member of the switch casing; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the front mem ber of the switch casing and switch mechanism inverted; Fig. 4 is a side elevation-of the switch mechanism with parts in section; Figs. 5 to 8 are diagrams of circuit connections made by the switch, and Fig. 9 is a plan view of a block switch for use in connection with fan motors, etc. I The switch shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of th drawing is known as a through cord and is de igned to control the current to electrical devices such as warming pads, toasters, percofators, etc. and is adapted to be held in the palm of the hand and operated by the thumb of the same hand.

The switch base or casing comprises similar frontand rear insulating members 1 and 2 with plane meeting surfaces which are held together by transverse screws 3. The front member 1 has a portion of one of its longitudinal edges 4 set back, while the corresponding edge 5 of the rear member 2 projects somewhat beyond it and .is provided with switch position indicia OL-MN. The inner surfaces of both casing members 1 and 2 are cored out as shown in Figs. 2 and 3'to provide space to receive the switch mechanism, contacts and the connecting means for the flexible conductors.

The rear member 2 is provided adjacent one end with two stationary switch contacts, a wide one 6 and anarrow one 7, and each is provided with a binding screw, while alongside of the smaller. contact 7 is a binding, screw 8 connected through a flat bar conductor 9 to a fourth binding screw 10 adjacent the opposite end of the casing member 2. Near the longitudinal edge opposite the bar conductor 9 is a stud 11 for mounting of the switch mechanism and concentric therewith is a ledge 12 in arcuate alignment with the stationary contacts 6 and 7 and diametrically opposite the contact 6 is a recess or pit 13 for a purpose to bet set forth.

The front casing member 1 has a stud 14 studs 11 and 14 of the casing. The actuating lever 17 is of sheet metal with its outer end provided with an ofiset knob 18 of insulation and designed to extend outside of the switch casing and free to be moved back and forth in the space provided beneath the 7 set-back edge 4 of the front casing member 1 and with its inner end 19 folded U=shape and transversely pierced to provide two points of engagement with the hollow shaft 16 with an intervening space for the assembly therein of a cross-ended spring 20.

The movable pole piece 21 is of springy sheet metal such as phosphor bronze made U- shape at its middle with the opposite legs spaced to receive freely between them the U- shaped end of the actuating lever 17 and both legs are transversely apertured for pivotally mounting upon the hollow shaft 16. The front leg is formed at its free end into a V- shaped boss 22 for engagement with the hills and valleys 15 of the front casing member 1. The rear leg has its free end bifurcated to form two spaced contacts 23 and 24. The

spacing of the contacts 23 and 24 is made greater than the space between the stationary contacts 6 and 7 on the rear casing member 2 so that as they moveclockwise both movable contacts 23 and 24 will not engage both the respective stationary contacts 6 and 7 until contact 23; has traversed substantially the width of contact 6.

The spring 20 freely surrounds the hollow shaft 16 between the legs of the actuating lever 17 and its ends extend radially outward on opposite sides of the bent portions of both the operating levefflipnd the movable pole piece 21 and operate yieldingly to hold those ent portions in alignment.

Mounted on-the rear end of the hollow shaft 16 and so as to bear against the movable pole piece 21 is a terminal plate 25 provided at its free end with a binding screw 25'.

After the several parts of the switch mechanism are assembled on the hollow shaft, washers 26 are put in place thereon and the ends of the shaft headed over them, thereby serving to retain all the parts together as a unit.

The incoming line wires will be connected to binding screws 10 and 25, while the wires outgoing to the translating device will be connected to the binding screws at the opposite end of the switch.

The switch mechanism is positioned upon the rear casing member 2 with the stud 11 entering the rear end of the hollow shaft 16 and the point of binding screw 25 extending into the pit 13 so that the terminal plate 25 will be held in fixed position.

The front casing member 1 is assembled upon the rear member 2 with its stud 14: entering the front end of the hollow shaft 16 and the holding screws 3 inserted and turned home. In the diagrams, Figs. 5 to 8, one conductor section 27 of the translating device is connected to binding screw 8 at the end of the bar 7, and completing the circuit through the conductor 9 and to the binding screw of the stationary contact 7 and a second larger section 28 of the translating device is connected in common with the other section to the outgoing wire from binding screw 8 and to the binding screw of the stationary contact 6.

As shown in Fig. 5, the movable pole piece smaller section 27 of the translating device for 191v effect.

A second actuation of the lever 17 to the right will effect a similar snap movement of the pole piece 21 into the position indicated in Fig. 7 with the movable contact 23 in engagement with the stationary contact 6 thereby interrupting the circuit through conductor section 27 and completing it through the larger section 28 for medium efiect. j A third movement to the right of the actuating lever 17 causes the pole piece 21 to snap into the position indicated in Fig. 8 with the movable contact 24 in engagement with the leys 15 in the same manner as during the opposite movements and the contacts as a consequence of such 'snap movements are saved froininjury by the electric arcing incident to making and breaking of the circuit.

The block switch shown in Fig. 9 is designed to' be mounted in the base of a fan motor and, accordingly, does notrequire individual encasement. It has all its parts mounted on' a single insulating block 29 in which its pivot or hollow shaft 16 is rigidly secured at its rear end.

While I have shown and described the best embodiments of the invention known to me, I do not desire to be restricted thereto.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. An electric switch comprising an insulating support in two enclosing members adapted to be secured together and said members being provided with aligned studs, one

member having stationary contacts thereon and the other member having a series of hills and valleys in arcuate relation to said studs, and a unitary switch mechanism having a hollow shaft mounted on said studs, an operating lever mounted on-said' shaft and extending outwardly between said members, a movable pole piece of springy sheet metal centrally mounted on said shaft and provided at one end with contacts and at the other end with a boss for engaging said hills and valleys, and a biasing spring connecting said lever and said pole piece. g

2. A unitary switch mechanism comprising a shaft, a movable pole piece bent U-shape and mounted transversely upon 'said shaft, an

operating lever having its inner end bent U- 

